“They’re not bad. He’s a good character.” Taking another sip of his coffee, he nodded at the figurines. “Who’s next?”
There, in the center of a glass case in all her green-skinned, pink-unitard glory, was her favorite. “She-Hulk.” From the green flowing hair to the white go-go boots, she was a sight, and Nora couldn’t help giggling. “I love She-Hulk.”
“Tell me about her.”
“Bruce Banner is her cousin and gives her a blood transfusion. The rest is history. She’s got all his strength, but she’s still smart and in control of her emotions. Can carry on a conversation…” Laughing, she continued, “Sometimes, she gives legal advice to the other superheroes because she’s a lawyer. And she has car trouble in a lot of stories, so I’m not really sure what to think of that.”
“What do you mean?” Frank asked.
“Is it because she’s female? Is it a not-so-subtle dig at women drivers?” She shrugged.
Placing his mug on the counter, he gripped the edge with one hand. “I’m willing to give you a trial run,” he said.
“You are?” Her voice squeaked, and she clasped her hands in front of her to keep from flapping excitedly.
“Evenings and weekends, one day a week to start. Most of my customers are older guys, so I’m not worried about you running into kids from the high school.”
So he did know who she was.
“I may need you more during the holidays, but I want to make sure you’ll work out first.”
“Okay,” she answered, nodding. She’d agree to anything in order to work here.
“Good.” He grinned at her. “Come back Sunday evening, around four when it’s slow, and we’ll start training. Sound good?”
“Yes. Thank you.” To her horror, her voice broke, so she nodded and held out her hand.
The door behind her opened and a customer brushed past her. Frank waved her off, his attention already on his customer. “See you Sunday.”
“Sunday,” she affirmed and went out. She had a job. A job! A real, pay-her-money-she-didn’t-have-to-pay-back job. Even though it was only a day a week, a burden lifted from her shoulders. It wouldn’t be much, but it was a start.
The weather had warmed considerably, and she unzipped her coat as she walked to the coffee shop. Seok had let her wear his watch again, and she still had time before meeting Ryan and Apollo. Hoping they arrived early, too, she hurried inside. It was busy, but they weren’t there. Scouting out a free table, she snagged an extra chair and stuck her jacket on it, the universal sign for saved.
“Hey, Nora.”
The sun shone so brightly it backlit the person in front of her. Lifting her hand above her eyes, she peered, confused, as the shadow sat. “Beau.”
“I didn’t think you’d be here.”
She’d completely forgotten. What a crappy thing to do. Before everything with Ryan, she’d agreed to meet him here today.
“How are you?” she asked.
Shrugging, he leaned his elbows on the table, tapping his fingers on the wood. “Okay.”
Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and his face was scruffy with beard growth.
“Did you sleep?”
“No.” Snorting, he shook his head. “No way.” Silent, he studied the other customers before peering at her. “Did you know who I was? Did you lie?”
“No,” she answered, leaning forward. “I didn’t know who you were until after you called me.”
“Ryan didn’t tell you all about me, tell you to look out for me?”
“Of course not!” She didn’t mean to snap at him. The idea of Ryan being anything but honorable made her defensive.
He raised an eyebrow.
“He didn’t,” she said again, leaning back and crossing her arms.
He watched her, and when she remained quiet, he sat back as well. “Sorry. I’m just…my head is all fucked up right now.”
Without thought, she reached for his hand. Pain rolled off him; she could almost feel it. “Did you ever talk to anyone about what happened to you?” she asked.
“Like a therapist?” he asked, bitterness dripping from his voice. “Yeah. I’m on my fifth.”
“I never did. But I never went to prison.”
“Lucky you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I am sorry for what happened to you.”
He took off his baseball hat and swept his dark hair off his forehead before placing it back on his head. “Sometimes I wonder where I’d be if this hadn’t happened. If Ryan didn’t do what he did.”
She was sure he did.
“I think that, too,” she ventured. “But I don’t want to be anywhere else. I wish there was a way for me to get here, where I am now, without anyone dying. Without Reid hurting anyone, but…” Her thought was too horrible to finish, and so she trailed off, her eyes flashing to Beau and then away.
“Go on.”
Shaking her head, she clasped her fingers together.
“Nora,” his voice sounded desperate. “Please.”
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to his.
“Please,” he repeated.
Cracking her knuckles, she opened her mouth. “Beau…” she warned.
“How horrible can it be, Nora? Please, I’m—Help me.”
She caught his gaze and held it. “But sometimes, Beau, I think it’d be worth anything, any sacrifice, to be where I am now.”
His shoulders slumped, so she was left staring at the top of his hat. Her words horrified her; how could they not appall him? She stared at the table, her fingers turning bloodless she squeezed them so tightly. A calloused hand touched hers, and she jumped.
“Thank you, Nora.” Beau slid his hand between both of hers before standing and leaning over, kissing her gently on the cheek. “Take care.”
“What the fuck? How many fucking boyfriends you have, Nora Leslie?” An angry, red-faced Tyler stood behind Beau. If she thought Beau appeared exhausted, he had nothing on Tyler. Beneath the angry flush, his skin was grey. Missing his ever-present baseball hat, his hair lay lank and greasy across his forehead and over his ears. His entire body was shrunken, sweatshirt hanging off his limbs. “How could you?” To her horror, tears rose in his eyes and dripped down his cheeks.
“Dude,” Beau intervened. “You have the wrong idea. I’m just a friend.”
“I don’t care who you are,” he spat back. “You don’t deserve him.” His rage focused on her again. “You—”
Running out of words, he launched himself at her, astonishing Beau who tried to grab him mid-dive. Together, they crashed to the floor, dragging Nora with them. It wasn’t a fight so much as a wild flailing of limbs. Voices around them rose in alarm, others joining in, attempting to pry the two men apart. A hard blow caught her in the ribs and another on her back when she turned defensively. There was no way to stand, no place to drag herself to. The most she could do was cover her head with her hands and curl herself into a ball. All the while, Tyler screamed at her, “Whore! Slut!”
The tangle of bodies moved away from her, but she stayed where she was. Tyler’s voice cut off, and a hush suddenly descended over the shop.
“Come here, Nore. It’s okay.”
Hands touched her arms, forcing her to uncoil. Her body, primed for hurt, jerked away from the touch. “Nora.” She knew this voice. Pulled forward, scooped up and protected, Ryan held her tight. His voice whispered in her ear before she heard Tyler again.
“She’s a liar! You can’t trust her! Tell Cai! You have to tell him!”
Over his shoulder, Tyler struggled against the police officers holding onto him. They dragged him out the door while he writhed like a fish on a hook. Tears streamed down his face while he continued to scream things Nora couldn’t understand.
Apollo appeared, jacket torn at the shoulder, a bead of blood welling up at the side of his lips. “Are you okay?” he asked immediately, pushing her hair out of her face and turning her head from side to side.
Unable to find the words to r
eassure him, she merely nodded. He took her from Ryan, sitting down on the bench against one wall and wrapping her tightly in his arms. “What happened?”
“That guy thought we were a couple and flew off the handle.” A sweaty, unkempt Beau sat next to her, raking his hands through his hair. Somewhere in the melee, he’d lost his hat. “Just attacked her.”
“Tyler? Attacked you?” Ryan shook his head, disbelief written all over him.
“You know him?” Beau asked. “I’m sorry man; I didn’t mean to make things harder.”
Nora saw the moment Ryan registered who was speaking, and the apology falling from his lips. His mouth opened to answer, but he couldn’t continue on and nodded.
“He’d have…” Clearing her throat, she tried again. “He’d have tackled me if Beau hadn’t stopped him.”
“Thanks,” Apollo’s voice rumbled, and she leaned her head against his chest, needing to be closer.
“Yeah. You’re welcome,” he replied a little awkwardly before standing and sweeping his cap off the ground as the coffee shop employees set the tables and chairs back in place. “I’ll see you later.” He tucked his chin at them before turning to leave. Glancing back at their group, he walked out the door.
“Go talk to him,” she directed Ryan, catching the way his eyes followed his movement.
“I should stay.”
“Go,” Apollo directed. “This is your chance.”
Looking at her for permission, she nodded. “Go.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
Potential
“BEAU!”
His former friend paused. From the set of his shoulders, Ryan could tell he’d heard him.
“Beau,” he said again. “Thank you. For everything. Yesterday and with Nora. She’s so small…”
“Only physically. Takes big risks.” Finally, their gazes met and held. “She loves you a lot.”
“I know.” He did know. “I never would have met her if not for you.”
A small grin played at the corner of Beau’s mouth. It was the same half-smile he’d had years ago, though a little more cynical.
“You don’t need to forgive me,” Ryan went on, going for broke. “But if it hadn’t been for the hurt I caused you, I don’t think I’d be who I am now. I’m a better person.”
The smile left Beau’s face, his hands went to his hips, and he stared at the ground. “I know. I’m not ready yet, Ryan. I don’t know if I’ll ever be.”
“I understand.” Peering back at the coffee shop, Ryan saw Apollo and Nora emerge from inside. “But thank you anyway.” He turned, sensing Beau’s need for space.
“Ryan. I might forgive you someday. I never thought that before.” Beau’s eyebrows drew together, and he said, almost to himself, “I never thought I’d be able to.”
Hope blossomed inside Ryan. The potential for forgiveness. It was something he’d never allowed himself to imagine. Beau wasn’t promising him anything, but he was recognizing the work Ryan had done to make amends, and he was saying maybe it was enough.
The things he’d done, the programs he’d started, they’d taken on a life of their own, and he would never abandon them. They’d become a part of him; he wanted them to change and grow. But their purpose served more than feeding his guilt, something which had never happened before. In the past, they’d been his reminders of the wrong he’d done, each one a lash against his skin. Finally, he could see himself recognizing the programs for their worth and not as evidence of his crime.
“Take care, Beau.”
“You, too, Ryan.” Zipping his coat, Beau glanced at Apollo and Nora who waited for Ryan. “Take care.”
They started toward him, Nora clutching her side though she stood straight. Apollo’s face was tight, and his shoulders were set.
“Let’s get you home.” Ryan cupped her cheek, smiling down at the person who brightened his life more than anything he could have imagined.
“You’re not mad?” she asked.
He’d leave the anger to Apollo. Right now, he was grateful for his friends, his girlfriend’s safety, and the future. There’d be time for anger later, so he shook his head. “Not at you. Never at you.”
Scoffing, she winced. “Give me time.”
Apollo snorted, and Ryan chuckled, too. Her head hit his chest, and he kissed the back of it. “Can you make it to the car?”
“Nothing’s broken,” she replied.
It was a non-answer, but he let it stand for now, exchanging a glance with Apollo, who nodded. Reaching for her hand, he interlaced their fingers while his friend kept his arm around her waist.
“I got a job,” she said.
“You did?”
“That’s great, baby,” Apollo whispered.
Their congratulations were quiet but heartfelt. “Seok’s going to be so proud.”
“It’s only a day a week, but it’s a start.”
It was a start. The future stretched in front of Ryan, bright and full of potential. These days, he couldn’t wait to see what it brought.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ripley Proserpina spends her days huddled near a fire in the frozen northern wilds of Vermont. She lives with her family, two magnificent cats, and a dog who aspires to cat-hood. She is the author of the Reverse Harem series, The Searchers, and “Missing Linc” from the paranormal series, The Aegeans in the upcoming horror romance anthology, Bloody Kisses. Follow her on Facebook or sign up for her newsletter at www.ripleyproserpina.com.
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NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
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Table of Contents
Finding Valor
one
Two
Three
Four
Five
six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Tweleve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
About the Author
Note from the Publisher
Finding Valor (The Searchers Book 2) Page 25
